How to Find Inmates

Whether you are in individual looking for a loved one who is incarcerated or a victim trying to find out an inmate's release date, there are plenty of resources available for your research. You can get the inmate's booking date, his date of release, the exact prison he is in and his inmate number. Because this information is free to the public, you should never pay to find an inmate.

Instructions

1. Use the Federal Bureau of Prison's "Inmate Locator" tool if the inmate is in a United States federal prison (See Resources). She is likely to be in a federal prison if she is guilty of breaking a federal law, such as drug trafficking, robbing a federal bank, mail fraud and identity theft.

   To use the federal inmate locator tool, enter the inmate's first and last name or her inmate number. Click the "Search" button to find the inmate. For optimum search results, you can also enter the inmate's race, gender and age.

2. Visit the sheriff's website for the county the inmate is confined in, if the inmate is in a county jail system. The county jail is similar to a "holding" cell. The inmate is likely to be in a county jail if a hearing and sentencing has not been held regarding the crime he allegedly committed.

   Once on the sheriff's website, access the sheriff's inmate roster. In general, the inmate roster will include limited information, such as the individual's name, gender, age, mug shot, booking date and bail bond information (exact information will vary by site).

3. Access the state's Department of Corrections website if the inmate is confined to a state prison. She is likely to be confined to a state prison if she committed a crime such as rape, robbery, murder or any other violent crime involving a gun.

   To use the Department of Correction's tool, select the option to search for an inmate. Enter the inmate's name and other pertinent information. Click "Search" to view inmate information.

References

• Marion County Sheriff's Office: Marion County Detention Center -- Current Inmates
• Boone County Missouri Sheriff's Department: Current Inmates of Boone County Jail
• Mississippi Department of Corrections: MDOC Inmates
• Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction: Offender Search
• The Free Inmate Locator
• Inmates Plus: Free Inmate Locator

Resources

• Federal Bureau of Prisons: Inmate Locator
• JailGuide: Inmate Search and Prison Inmate Locator